From sweeping orchestral scores and heart-thumping anthems to chart-topping K-drama OSTs, 2024 was a year where music truly elevated storytelling. Whether it was a haunting melody underscoring a anxiety-ridden moment or a catchy tune that became a cultural phenomenon, the soundtracks of 2024 left an mark on screens and hearts worldwide. Join EnVi as we revisit the year’s most unforgettable scores and standout tracks that brought our favorite stories to life.
This list only contains soundtracks from films and series released from January through October.
Monkey Man – Jed Kurzel
Standout Tracks: “The Kid” and “Tuk Tuk”
Monkey Man is an intense thriller that’s as gripping musically as it is visually. Jed Kurzel’s resonant, 32-song soundtrack is the perfect blend of an eerie atmosphere with adrenaline-charged moments. The score paired well with, and even amplified, the film’s themes of tension, peril, and resilience. Tracks such as “Tuk Tuk” and “On the Ground” evoke the intensity and urgency of action-packed scenes. On the other hand, “Mother” and “Dreams” bring a hauntingly beautiful pause to the chaos. “The Kid” is a standout, breathtaking track as it marks Dev Patel’s character’s turning point as he becomes fully prepared to pursue his ultimate mission.
Sneha Khanwalkar also contributed five tracks to the soundtrack, where he brought a vibrant, alternative hip-hop sound. With tracks such as “Maushi” ft. Rada and “Naam Mera” ft. Lazer X, Khanwalkar provided a modern Indian flair that allows the soundtrack to balance cultural depth with emotional storytelling. The soundtrack is as moving as the film itself, making it another standout element in Monkey Man’s growing acclaim. — Kayla Gayle
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The Idea of You – Nicholas Galitzine & August Moon
Standout Tracks: “Closer” and “Guard Down”
The soundtrack for Prime Video’s The Idea Of You is as captivating as the whirlwind romance at the heart of the film. This modern love story, follows Solène (Anne Hathway) a 40 year old woman and her unexpected connection with a younger pop star, finds its emotional beats perfectly mirrored in a meticulously curated soundtrack. Featuring a mix of contemporary pop and soulful ballads, the music underscores the highs and lows of passion, vulnerability, and self-discovery. At its core are the original songs by August Moon, the fictional boyband brought to life by male protagonist Hayes’ (Nicholas Galitzine) heartfelt vocals. These tracks, crafted by renowned songwriters, strike the perfect balance between stadium-worthy anthems and intimate melodies, embedding themselves in your head well after the movie ends. The soundtrack is more than a score, it’s a character all its own, amplifying the intensity of the film’s most memorable moments. — Davonna Gilpin
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Deadpool and Wolverine – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Bye Bye Bye” (NSYNC) and “Slash” (Stray Kids)
Deadpool and Wolverine was one of the years biggest global box office hits. Released in July, the movie was filled with cameos, fourth wall breaks, and Deadpool’s witty narration that Marvel fans adore from him. However, nearly as popular as the movie itself, NSYNCS iconic “Bye Bye Bye” was this movie’s opening song. A staple in the Deadpool franchise that helps set the tone for the movie.
With a dance from “Dancepool” or Nick Pauly, the song became a viral hit on social media. It was so popular that the original music video on YouTube added Deadpool and Wolverine to the song title. Staying in the boyband theme “Slash” by Stray Kids brought K-pop fans to the theater. As the Stray Kids members have a long history with both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, fans were excited to see the song featured on the Soundtrack. Also featuring an eclectic mix of hit songs from across the genre spectrum, the entire soundtrack is perfectly random, just like Deadpool. — Deshalia Murray
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Queen of Tears – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Love You With All My Heart” and “Heart Flutter”
Queen of Tears — the current highest-rated series in tvN history — not only impressed with its notable acting but also its soundtrack. The album consists of 54 tracks and features two discs — one for lyrical performances and the other for the show’s score. All of the tracks were composed by established composer and music director Nam Hye-seung, who has participated in creating music for over 77 Korean drama productions. Several performers including 10CM, Crush, HEIZE, and BSS participated in the album; each possessing a unique vocal capability that complements the impassioned mood exhibited between a couple in turmoil. Kim Soo-hyun, the show’s male lead, concluded the album with a surprise performance; marking his first OST performance in over a decade. The song is a message to his on-screen wife Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) — and those who loyally tuned in for their story week to week. — Ebonie Mustipher
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Look Back – haruka nakamura, urara
Standout Tracks: “Light song” and “FINAL ONE”
Look Back follows Ayumu Fujino, a talented fourth-grader proud of her manga skills, who finds her confidence shaken when Kyomoto, a reclusive student, contributes stunning background art to their school newspaper. Despite their rivalry, their connection deepens, culminating in a partnership that launches them into success as a young mangaka duo. The movie’s soundtrack, crafted by Haruka Nakamura and Eriko Kimura, plays a pivotal role in elevating the narrative. The music seamlessly blends with the animation, capturing the characters’ passion, joy, and sorrow. The haunting absence of music in tense moments heightens emotional impact, while the ending theme, “Light Song” by urara, beautifully encapsulates the film’s essence, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. — Carissa Alfiora
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Bridgerton Season Three – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Give Me Everything – Stripped” and “Dynamite”
The much anticipated third season of Bridgerton stars Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) in an epic friends to lovers romance. Feeling the pressure of yet another year of being on the marriage mart, Penelope looks to reinvent herself. As a close friend, Colin offers to help Penelope win over suitors, but he quickly realizes that he might desire to be more than just friends. Bridgerton as a franchise is notorious for its classical pop covers, and this season held up the tradition with renditions of mainstream hits from BTS, Ariana Grande, Coldplay, and more . Many of the tracks, like “abcdefu” by Vitula and “Dynamite” by Vitamin String Quartet, mirror Penelope’s growing confidence. Other tracks such as “Give Me Everything – Stripped” by Archer Marsh encompass Penelope and Colin’s turbulent relationship throughout the season of switching from hesitation to urgentness. — Allie Salvucci
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Dear Hyeri – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Love You in Silence” and “What If”
Featuring Shin Hye-sun as the protagonist of Dear Hyeri, the series touches on the complexities of love, trauma, and dreams, with the OST album mirroring several themes. Composed of 5 main songs, the album evokes a type of emotional softness and vulnerability from the calm ballads. Featuring artists like K-rock band Vanilla Unity and virtual idol group PLAVE, the album covers the progression of love and break-ups.
With the first track “Love You in Silence,” giving a soft assurance of unconditional love and the album starting to close out with “What If,” a yearning that literally questions the “what ifs” of a failed relationship, the album covers love in all its forms — successful or otherwise. With an instrumental version of all five songs included in the album, the soft strings are better heard for those who’d prefer an orchestral arrangement. — Karen Yi
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Interview with the Vampire: Season 2 – Daniel Hart
Standout Tracks: “The Whole World Was Ready to Return” and “I Didn’t Know It Was A Gift”
Daniel Hart returned to compose and produce the soundtrack for the second season of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. He brought his spellbinding score to life across 34 tracks and as Hart puts it, “I’m not sure it’s possible to fit more music into a television show than we did in season 2 of Interview with the Vampire.” The score draws from more than just the action on-screen; it’s dictated by dialogue, the timbre of the characters’ voices, the lighting, and set design. Hart has mentioned that characters are represented by specific instruments; for instance, Lestat is embodied by the piano, while in season 2 Louis’ musical alter ego is the tenor saxophone.
One of the standout tracks, “The Whole World Was Ready to Return,” is a hopeful yet very melancholic piece as it plays during a powerful scene where Louis (Jacob Anderson) promises Claudia (Delainey Hayles) that she is enough, while he grapples with his hallucination of his late-companion Lestat (Sam Reid). The delicate, emotional track “I Didn’t Know It Was A Gift” plays in the season finale during a heart-wrenching reunion, heightened by a hurricane raging outside. The score mirrors the heartache and longing between two characters reuniting, with a soft, mournful melody that builds in intensity. — K.G.
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Stage Fighter – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Bones (prod. Czaer)” and “Maestro of My Heart (prod. Czaer)”
In the fourth installment of the Korean dance reality show Stage Fighter, 64 dancers from three disciplines including ballet, contemporary, and Korean traditional, showcase their distinctive skills through various dance battles. The producers of the series acknowledged the general public’s newness to the genre, and they aimed to develop the show in a way that would be easily digestible. Composer and producer Czaer (시저), who has worked on songs for other Fighter seasons, combined classical and modern elements to draw in viewers and keep them engaged with the performances. With lively tracks performed by KISS OF LIFE, and P1Harmony, and alluring tracks sung by Shinee’s TAEMIN and (G)IDLE’s MIYEON the comprehensive soundtrack covers all the bases — both lyrically and sonically. — E.M.
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Lovely Runner – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Sudden Shower” and “Spring Snow”
ECLIPSE, the fictional band behind “Sudden Shower,” has risen to fame, with their debut single achieving international success and charting on the Billboard Global 200, peaking at 167. In Lovely Runner, the song “Sudden Shower” serves as a unique K-drama OST, acting as a plot device rather than merely enhancing emotional scenes, and plays a crucial role in connecting the characters across various timelines. Written by the male lead, Ryu Sun-Jae (Byeon Woo-seok), the romantic ballad symbolizes his affection for Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), his first love, and repeatedly reemerges in different timelines, binding their stories together. In the original timeline, the song becomes a hit after Ryu Sun-Jae confesses it was inspired by his first love, while in other versions, Im Sol’s actions bring the song to life through her own creative pursuits. This innovative use of an OST enriches the narrative, intertwining music seamlessly into the plot. — C.A.
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My Lady Jane – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “She’s Not There” and “The Chain”
This historical fantasy drama utilizes modern music to enhance its witty narration and situational irony. In an eight episode series, Emily Bader stars as Lady Jane Grey who reluctantly marries Lord Guilford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) and unexpectedly finds herself crowned the Queen of England. With the looming threat of civil war, Jane juggles the conflict between ordinary humans known as Verities and Ethians, humans that have the ability to change into an animal. While My Lady Jane often uses anachronistic songs such as “Rebel Rebel” by Tegan and Sara and “Tainted Love” by Goat Girl to reimagine a campy, historical parody. Original tracks like Griff’s “She’s Not There” and CHINCHILLA’s “The Chain” structure’s sense of power and awareness as a woman in the 16th century. — A.S.
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Challengers – Trent Razor & Atticus Ross
Standout Tracks: “Yeah x10” and “Challengers”
One of the most beloved soundtracks of 2024 belonged to Challengers, the fast-paced tennis love triangle film that had everyone buzzing this spring. While steamy scenes and heated debates about which character was the bigger villain (Art) dominated the discourse, the film’s score also earned widespread praise. Primarily composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross — renowned for their Academy Award-winning score for The Social Network — the duo masterfully blended their signature atmospheric sounds with energetic, pulse-pounding tracks that perfectly captured the tension of high-stakes matches and the emotional weight of the story’s tangled relationships. Their innovative blend of electronic and orchestral elements added layers of complexity to the narrative, making the viewing experience even more immersive. The score not only heightened the on-court action but also underscored the intricate dynamics between the characters, earning musical acclaim and a GRAMMY nomination, solidifying the soundtrack’s place among the best of 2024. — D.G.
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Love Next Door – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Reaching for You” and “The truth”
Starring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, Love Next Door embraces the tumultuous transition between childhood friends to lovers. With a long-standing history of embarrassing moments and awkward teenage years, the couple are emotionally oblivious, even with the palpable romantic tension on-screen. Yet, with an undeniable chemistry, the two are authentic, coupled with a lightheartedness and humor that makes the slow burn worth staying for.
The OST album features a whopping 24 tracks, with various genres and vibes throughout, capturing the romance and almost-romances in the series. From bubbly tracks to slower ballads, there’s a song for every stage of the duo’s romance meter. Featuring artists like ZEROBASEONE and Jung Hae-in himself, the album is a great listen for any viewer. — K.Y.
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Family By Choice – Various Artists
Standout Tracks: “Us in Those Days” and “All Our Days”
Based on the Chinese hit drama, Go Ahead, Family By Choice follows three teeangers who nurture a close family bond despite not being related by blood. Most recognized from his role in True Beauty, Hwang In Yeop stars alongside Jung Chae-yeon and Bae Hyun-Sung.
Ha Sung-Woon, a former member of Wanna One, has performed an extensive list of OTS (Original Television Soundtrack) for drama Love Next Door, Lovely Runner, Our Blues, Our Beloved Summer, and True Beauty. The first single of Family By Choice is Sung-Woon’s “Us in Those Days” which is both nostalgic and hopeful. Additionally, singer-songwriter Kim Feel has an OST portfolio including My Liberation Notes, START-UP, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, ITAEWON CLASS, and Reply 1988. His song, “All Our Days” as the fourth track for Family By Choice is tender in lyrics and encompasses the teenagers’ despair from their aloof maternal relationship. — A.S.
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Interested in more soundtracks? Check out our favorite K-drama OSTs of 2024 here!
